1

PERKIN
A formal synthesis of reserpine: hydrindane approach to the
Woodwards ring-E precursor

Goverdhan Mehta * and D. Srinivasa Reddy

School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046, India

Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India

Received (in Cambridge, UK) 17th January 2000, Accepted 2nd March 2000
Published on the Web 11th April 2000

A new synthetic approach to a functionally and stereochemically embellished cyclohexanoid, corresponding to the
Woodwards ring-E intermediate 24 of the complex indole alkaloid reserpine 1 is delineated. Our scheme emanates
from a readily available endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane system from which cis-hydrindane and cyclohexanoid moieties
are sequentially extracted. The strategy outlined here exploits the propensity of the endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane
and cis-hydrindane systems to react from the convex face to generate the requisite stereochemical pattern. Since
24 has been previously elaborated to the natural product, the present eort constitutes a formal synthesis of
rac-reserpine.

The pentacyclic indole alkaloid reserpine 1, rst isolated from
the Indian snake root, Rauwola serpentina Benth, occupies a
historically important position among natural products for a
variety of reasons.1,2 Besides having a complex structure, 1 2 was
among the very rst few natural products to have been used
clinically. For quite some time, reserpine 1 was commonly
employed for the treatment of hypertension and mental dis-
orders. The pentacyclic framework of reserpine 1 with six stereo-
genic centres and ample functionalisation was considered as a
major synthetic challenge in the 1950s and 1960s. Its rst syn-
thesis by Woodward,3a nearly forty years ago, was a landmark
and ranks among the classics of modern organic synthesis.
Over the years, reserpine has continued to sustain the interest
and attention of synthetic chemists 3,4 and as many as eight total
syntheses have been recorded to date.3ah The approaches
adopted towards the successful syntheses of 1 fall into two
broad categories. In the rst group are the approaches that
focus on the construction of ring E of reserpine wherein ve of
the six stereogenic centres and much of the functionality reside.
The original Woodward approach 3a and those of Pearlman,3b
Stork,3e Fraser-Reid,3f Liao 3g and Hanessian 3h have targeted an
appropriately functionalised ring-E precursor 2 in which the
requisite stereochemistry is built in. Woodward 3a employed the
DielsAlder adduct of vinylacrylic acid and benzoquinone as
the starting material in which a series of clever functional group
manipulations were orchestrated to attain the ring-E stereo-
chemistry. Intramolecular [2 2] photocycloaddition in a
cyclohexene derivative and cyclobutane fragmentation was the
stratagem employed by Pearlman 3b in accessing ring E of 1.
Stork et al.3e and Liao et al.3g employed the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane
scaold to deliver the desired stereochemistry of ring E. Fraser-
Reid 3f and Hanessian 3h employed glucose and quinic acid,
respectively, as chirons in their approach to reserpine 1.
On the other hand, Wender et al.3c and Martin et al.3d in their
successful synthesis of reserpine have focused on assembling a
cis-hydroisoquinoline moiety 3, incorporating the DE-rings of
the natural product, employing DielsAlder/Cope rearrange-
ment and intramolecular DielsAlder reaction as the key steps,
respectively. In both, the E-ring as well as DE-ring approaches,
appropriately constructed precursors 2 and 3 are condensed
with indole derived AB-ring partners 4 and 5, respectively, to
generate the pentacyclic framework of reserpine 1, Scheme 1.
Several innovative and interesting solutions to ring-E con-
struction have been presented en route to the synthesis of 1. We
have conceptualised a new approach to Woodwards ring-E
precursor of reserpine 1 from readily accessible endo-tricyclo-
[5.2.1.02,6]decane derivative 6.5 The key feature of this strategy
is the retrieval of the six-membered ring (see bold portion in 6)
embedded within the tricyclic frame of 6. Another distinctive
aspect of this approach is that all the ten carbon atoms of
Woodwards ring-E intermediate (see 8) are present in the tri-
cyclic framework 6, which in turn is assembled from two C5

Scheme 1

DOI: 10.1039/b000430h J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2000, 13991404 1399

This journal is The Royal Society of Chemistry 2000
cyclopentadiene units (vide infra). Thus, no carbon needs to be
added or removed from the tricyclic precursor 6, only skeletal
restructuring and functional group changes are required. In
practical terms, elaboration of 6 to 8 requires opening-up of the
bridge (67), functional group adjustment as called for and
nally oxidative cleavage of the double bond in 7 to deliver the
ring-E intermediate 8. A particularly attractive feature of our
simple approach is that both endo-tricyclic system 6 and the cis-
hydrindane 7 are amenable to stereochemical control through
Fig. 1
their skeletal topology, with reagent addition expected to occur
only from the exo/convex face of the molecule. We report here
the successful execution of the approach towards Woodwards
ring-E intermediate 9 as shown in Scheme 2, which in a formal
sense constitutes a new synthesis of rac-reserpine 1.

Scheme 2

Our approach emanated from two abundantly available C5

building blocks, cyclopentadiene and 5,5-dimethoxytetra-
chlorocyclopentadiene 10, which readily enter into DielsAlder
reaction to furnish the known tricyclic endo-adduct 11.6 The
rst priority was to protect the distal disubstituted cyclopen-
tene double bond in a manner that at an appropriate stage it
could be oxidatively cleaved to generate the cis disposed sub-
stituents at C15 and C16 (reserpine numbering) on the E-ring
of 1. Regioselective, catalytic cis-dihydroxylation of 11 led to
the tricyclic exo,exo-diol 12 which was directly subjected
to exhaustive reductive dehalogenation in metalammonia
solution to furnish 13. Exposure of 13 to acetone in the presence
of Amberlyst-15 resulted in the two desired protection
deprotection events taking place in a single-pot reaction. While
the cis-diol moiety was protected as the acetonide derivative,
the dimethyl acetal was deprotected to give keto-acetonide
14, Scheme 3. The stage was now set for the removal of
the carbonyl bearing bridge in 14 to unravel the hydrindane
framework. This was accomplished via BaeyerVilliger (BV)
oxidation. Reaction of 14 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid and
methanolysis of the resulting lactones led to the formation of
regioisomeric hydroxy esters 15 and 16 in a 55 : 45 ratio, Scheme
3. Apparently, the distal acetonide group in 14 has very little
eect on the regiochemistry of BV oxidation and nearly equal
amounts of 15 and 16 are obtained. The two esters 15 and 16
are readily separable and could be distinguished through an
incisive analysis of their 1H1H COSY spectra derived con-
nectivities as depicted in Fig. 1. Although the lack of BV
oxidation regioselectivity in 14 was a somewhat unsatisfactory
outcome, the redeeming feature was the desired migration of
the olenic bond into conjugation with the ester moieties in 15
and 16 during methanolysis. This was considered necessary to
recreate the correct stereochemistry at the ester bearing carbon
Scheme 3 Reagents and conditions: (a) OsO4, Me2COH2Ot-BuOH
(5 : 3 : 1), 24 h, 90%; (b) NaNH3, THF, EtOH, 15 min, 50%; (c)
Me2COAmberlyst-15, 6 h, 83%; (d) MCPBA, DCM, 30 min; KOH,
MeOH, 20 min, 63%.
centre (C20 of reserpine), taking advantage of the topology of
the cis-hydrindane framework.
The free hydroxy group in the required regioisomer 15 was
methylated employing methyl iodide and solid KOH under
solvent free conditions 7 to furnish the methoxy ester 17. It was
now proposed to functionalise the allylic position in the ester 17
to generate the C18 centre of reserpine 1 present in ring E.
Several reagents like Cr(CO)6t-BuOOH,8a CrO3dimethyl-
pyrazole,8b CrO3AcOH,8c SeO2 (cat)t-BuOOH 8d etc. were
tried to oxidise 17 to the ,-unsaturated enone 18 but none of
them proved to be entirely satisfactory. Best results were
obtained with PDC on Celite in the presence of tert-butyl
hydroperoxide and 18 was obtained in ~30% yield,8e Scheme 4.
Luche reduction 9 of the enone carbonyl in 18 proceeded stereo-
selectively in an expected fashion to furnish 19. The hydride
addition to the carbonyl group in 18 was from the convex face
of the cis-hydrindane moiety and the correct stereochemistry
corresponding to the C18 centre of reserpine was established.
The next key step was to set the stereochemistry of the meth-
oxycarbonyl bearing centre and towards that end the double
bond in 19 was subjected to catalytic hydrogenation. The reduc-
tion was fairly stereoselective and an 85 : 15 mixture of epi-

1400 J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2000, 13991404

Scheme 4 Reagents and conditions: (a) KOH, MeI, 20 h, 90%; (b) PDC, t-BuOOH, Celite, benzene, 1 h, 30%; (c) NaBH4, CeCl37H2O, MeOH,
20 C, 15 min, 62%; (d) H2, PtO2, EtOH, 1 h; (e) DIBAL-H, DCM, 78 C, 30 min; (f ) MePPh3I, n-BuLi, 15 min, 48% (for 3 steps); (g) Ac2O,
pyridine, DMAP, 2 h, 86%; (h) 30% TFA, 1 h; NaIO4, 10% aq. THF, 15 min; Jones oxidation, Me2CO; CH2N2, ether, 21% (for 4 steps).
mers 20 was obtained. The major epimer formed during the
reduction of 19 was the -isomer with endo-methoxycarbonyl
group corresponding to the required C20-stereochemistry in 1.
The separation of epimers 20 proved dicult at this stage and
therefore we proceeded further as such towards the Wood-
wards intermediate. DIBAL-H reduction of 20 to the
aldehyde 21 and Wittig olenation furnished 22. The Wittig
olenation was necessitated by our intent to protect the alde-
hyde functionality in 21 during subsequent steps. It was
reasoned that the aldehyde functionality, which is present in the
target structure could be readily regenerated at an appropriate
stage from the olen. As 22 turned out to be a nice solid, crys-
tallization led to ready purication and it was obtained as a
single stereoisomer and fully characterized. The secondary
hydroxy group in 22 was now acetylated to 23. The nal man-
oeuvre now was the unraveling of the cis disposed methoxy-
carbonyl and acetic acid side arms on the E-ring, corresponding
to C16 and C15 of reserpine, respectively, from the ve mem-
bered ring of the cis-hydrindane 23. A four step sequence con-
sisting of acetonide deprotection, periodate cleavage of the
resultant diol to dialdehyde, Jones oxidation to the dicarboxylic
acid and diazomethane esterication led to the diester 24 in
modest yield, Scheme 4. The diester 24 has been recently
reported by Fraser-Reid et al.3f and our synthetic sample was
found to be identical with their sample in all respects. On
ozonolysis, the olenic moiety in 24 is readily transformed to
the aldehyde functionality and the resulting product is the
Woodwards reserpine precursor 9,3f which has been earlier
elaborated to the natural product.3a
In short, we have outlined a new approach to a densely func-
tionalised cyclohexanoid, identical with Woodwards ring-E
intermediate from readily available cyclopentadiene based
building-blocks. Our approach, notable for its conceptual
simplicity, relies on the topology of the endo-tricyclo-
[5.2.1.02,6]decane and cis-hydrindane ring systems to achieve the
desired stereoselectivity.
Experimental
General
Melting points were recorded on a Bchi SMP-20 apparatus
and are uncorrected. Infrared spectra were recorded on Perkin-
Elmer model 1310 or JASCO FT-IR. Solid samples were
recorded as KBr pellets and liquids as thin lms. 1H NMR
spectra were recorded at 200 MHz or 300 MHz and 13C NMR
spectra were recorded at 50 MHz or 75 MHz on Bruker AC 200
or JNM -300 spectrometers respectively. 1H and 13C NMR
samples were made in CDCl3 solvent and chemical shifts are
reported on the scale using tetramethylsilane (Me4Si) as the
internal standard. J values are given in Hz. The standard
abbreviations br, s, d, t, q and m refer to broad, singlet, doublet,
triplet, quartet and multiplet, respectively. Mass spectra
measurements were carried out on a JEOL JMS DX-303
spectrometer. Elemental analyses were carried out using a
Perkin-Elmer 240C elemental analyzer or Carlo Erba 1106-
CHN analyzer. Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
was performed on (10 5 cm) glass plates coated with
Acmes silica gel G (containing 13% calcium sulfate as binder).
Column chromatography was performed using Acmes silica gel
(100200 mesh) and ethyl acetatehexane was used as eluent.
Moisture sensitive reactions were performed using standard
syringe-septum techniques under a nitrogen atmosphere. All
solvents were distilled over appropriate drying agents, prior to
use. Yields reported are isolated yields of materials judged
homogeneous by TLC and NMR.
1,7,8,9-Tetrachloro-10,10-dimethoxytricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-
ene-3,4-diol 12
Osmium tetroxide (115 mg, 0.45 mmol, 0.5 mol%) was added to
a stirred solution of adduct 11 (30 g, 90 mmol), prepared from
tetrachlorodimethoxycyclopentadiene 10 and cyclopentadiene
by following the literature procedure,5 NMO (16 g, 136
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2000, 13991404 1401
mmol) in acetone (100 ml), water (100 ml) and t-BuOH (20 ml)
at room temperature (25 C) with stirring. The reaction was
slightly exothermic initially and was maintained at room tem-
perature with a water bath. After stirring for 24 h, the osmate
ester was hydrolyzed with a saturated solution of NaHSO3 and
extracted with EtOAc several times. The combined organic
layer was washed with water, brine and dried. The residue
obtained after the removal of the solvent was passed through a
small silica gel column to furnish diol 12 (~29 g) in 88% yield as
a white solid and was recrystallized from DCMhexane. Mp:
111 C; IR (KBr): max 3362, 1604, 1450, 1192 cm1; 1H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3): 4.003.80 (m, 2H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.54 (s,
3H), 3.423.31 (m, 1H), 3.06 (dd, 1H, J = 9.5, 4.3), 2.4 (br s,
2H), 1.89 (dd, 1H, J = 12.8, 8.8, 5), 1.681.50 (m, 1H); 13C
NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 130.1, 129.4, 114.8, 76.4, 74.8, 72.9,
58.9 (2C), 52.5, 51.6, 51.4, 30.6; m/z (EI): 328 (M Cl);
Found: C, 39.55; H, 3.81. C12H14O4Cl4 requires: C, 39.59; H,
3.88%.
10,10-Dimethoxytricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-ene-3,4-diol 13
In a 1 l three necked round bottomed ask tted with a con-
denser, KOH guard tube and a septum, 600 ml of distilled
liquid ammonia was taken and a solution of diol 12 (18.2 g, 50
mmol) in 80 ml dry THF and 8 ml of dry ethanol were added.
Small pieces of freshly cut sodium were slowly added to the
reaction mixture with stirring till the blue color persisted. The
reaction mixture was stirred for another 15 minutes and ~5 g of
solid NH4Cl were added. Ammonia was allowed to evaporate
and the residue was diluted with water. Extraction with ethyl
acetate, washing with brine and removal of solvent aorded a
viscous liquid which was distilled at 165 C/1 Torr to furnish
pure diol 13 (6.9 g) in 45% yield. IR (neat): max 3406, 3061,
1440, 1273 cm1; 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 6.196.17 (m,
2H), 4.00 (m, 1H), 3.52 (t, 1H, J = 5), 3.28 (s, 3H), 3.12 (s, 3H),
3.052.60 (series of m, 4H), 1.821.70 (m, 1H), 1.221.10 (m,
1H); 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 134.2, 133.6, 122.3, 77.4,
75.9, 51.8, 49.9 (2C), 48.3, 46.8, 42.0, 33.7; m/z (EI): 226 (M);
Found: C, 63.75; H, 8.05. C12H18O5 requires: C, 63.60; H,
8.02%.
5,5-Dimethyl-4,6-dioxatetracyclo[8.2.1.02,9,03,7]tridec-11-en-13-
one 14
To a solution of diol 13 (8 g, 35.4 mmol) in acetone (25 ml),
Amberlyst-15 catalyst was added and the resulting hetero-
geneous mixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. Filtration of the resin
and concentration furnished the keto-acetonide 14 (6.1 g) in
83% yield as a colorless solid. Mp: 74 C; IR (KBr): max 1778,
1373, 1062, 719 cm1; 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 6.546.51
(m, 2H), 4.39 (m, 1H), 4.17 (m, 1H), 3.302.70 (series of m,
4H), 2.202.00 (m, 1H), 1.601.55 (m, 1H), 1.47 (s, 3H), 1.26 (s,
3H); 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 202.2, 133.0, 132.0, 110.8,
84.3, 83.4, 52.0, 50.2, 48.5, 42.2, 35.0, 27.9, 25.4; m/z (EI):
207 (M 1); Found: C, 70.62; H, 7.34. C13H16O3 requires:
C, 70.89; H, 7.32%.
Methyl 4-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3b,4,5,7a,8,8a-hexahydro-
3aH-indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxole-7-carboxylate 15 and methyl
7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3b,6,7,7a,8,8a-hexahydro-3aH-indeno-
[1,2-d][1,3]dioxole-4-carboxylate 16
To an ice-cooled solution of the tricyclic ketone 14 (4.4 g, 20
mmol) and anhydrous Na2CO3 (2.2 g, 20.6 mmol in dry
dichloromethane (50 ml) m-chloroperbenzoic acid (5.4 g, 70%,
22 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for
30 min. The reaction was quenched with saturated aq. NaHCO3
and the contents were stirred for another 15 min. The organic
layer was separated and the aqueous layer was further extracted
with dichloromethane. The combined organic extracts were
again washed with saturated aq. NaHCO3, followed by brine.
1402 J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2000, 13991404
The crude mixture of the lactones (~4.8 g) obtained after the
removal of solvent was dissolved in dry methanol (15 ml) and a
small pellet of KOH was added. The contents were then stirred
for 20 min at room temperature. After the removal of the
methanol under vacuum, the residue was diluted with water
and extracted with diethyl ether. The ethereal layer was washed
with water and dried. The crude residue obtained after the
removal of the solvent was loaded on the silica gel column and
eluted with 20% ethyl acetatehexane to furnish the hydroxy
esters 15 (1.85 g) and 16 (1.62 g) in 63% overall yield in 55 : 45
ratio.
15: IR: max 3445, 1714, 1647, 1379, 1209, 750 cm1; 1H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3): 6.84 (m, 1H), 4.85 (d, 1H, J = 5.6), 4.70
(t, 1H, J = 5.2), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.603.20 (m, 2H), 2.64 (dt, 1H,
J = 18.4, 5.8), 2.42 (dd, 1H, J = 14, 6.6), 2.16 (m, 1H), 2.02 (dd,
1H, J = 11.4, 6.6), 1.48 (s, 3H), 1.32 (m, 1H), 1.31 (s, 3H);
13
C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 166.9, 136.4, 132.5, 109.4, 89.9,
79.9, 64.4, 52.1, 51.6, 39.3, 37.2, 35.4, 26.3, 23.9; Found: C,
62.63; H, 7.53. C14H20O5 requires C, 62.67; H, 7.51%.
16: IR: max 3439, 1714, 1647, 1259, 1209, 748 cm1; 1H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3): 6.87 (m, 1H), 4.87 (m, 2H), 4.05 (m, 1H),
3.78 (s, 3H), 3.05 (m, 1H), 2.80 (m, 1H), 2.39 (m, 2H), 1.92 (dd,
1H, J = 13.6, 5.8), 1.49 (s, 3H), 1.35 (m, 1H), 1.30 (s, 3H);
13
C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 167.1, 136.4, 129.3, 109.8, 84.7,
79.0, 65.3, 51.7, 42.6, 41.0, 34.5, 30.3, 26.4, 24.1; m/z (EI): 253
(M 15).
Methyl 4-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3b,4,5,7a,8,8a-hexahydro-3aH-
indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxole-7-carboxylate 17
A mixture of 15 (1.5 g, 5.6 mmol), methyl iodide (2.6 ml, 40
mmol) and KOH (~360 mg, 6 mmol) was stirred at rt for 20 h
and then loaded on a pad of silica gel and eluted with 10%
EtOAchexane to aord 17 (1.41 g) in 90% yield. IR: max 1712,
1649, 1437, 1379, 1248, 750 cm1; 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3):
6.90 (m, 1H), 4.804.60 (m, 2H), 4.05 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H),
3.38 (s, 3H), 3.102.90 (m, 1H), 2.75 (dt, 1H, J = 18.4, 5.8), 2.47
(dd, 1H, J = 17.5, 6), 2.102.00 (m, 2H), 1.48 (s, 3H), 1.36 (m,
1H), 1.32 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 167.0, 136.2,
132.5, 109.3, 82.2, 79.9, 72.7, 56.2, 51.6, 49.8, 39.4, 36.9, 30.6,
26.3, 24.0; m/z (EI): 282 (M); Found: C, 63.85; H, 7.87.
C15H22O5 requires: C, 63.81; H, 7.85%.
Methyl 4-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-3b,4,5,7a,8,8a-hexa-
hydro-3aH-indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxole-7-carboxylate 18
To an ice-cooled solution of 17 (1.2 g, 4.25 mmol) in benzene
(15 ml) was added Celite (200 mg), PDC (3.16 g, 8.5 mmol) and
0.4 ml of 80% tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The reaction mixture
was stirred at rt for 1 h and then ltered through a small Celite
pad. The crude product obtained after evaporation of the
solvent was loaded on a silica gel column and eluted with 10%
EtOAchexane to furnish enone 18 (230 mg) and unreacted
starting material (450 mg) in 30% yield (on the basis of recovery
of starting material). IR: max 1724, 1701, 1439, 1253, 1209, 756
cm1; 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 6.71 (s, 1H), 4.86 (t, 1H,
J = 5.4), 4.69 (d, 1H, J = 5.6), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.61 (s, 3H), 3.59
3.50 (m, 2H), 2.702.48 (m, 2H), 1.851.75 (m, 1H), 1.49 (s,
3H), 1.33 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): 198.5, 165.9,
148.2, 131.7, 109.7, 82.2, 80.5, 78.6, 59.5, 52.7, 51.4, 37.7, 37.3,
26.2, 23.8; m/z (EI): 296 (M 1); Found: C, 60.62; H, 6.83.
C15H22 O5 requires: C, 60.80; H, 6.80%.
Methyl 5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3b,4,5,7a,8,8a-hexa-
hydro-3aH-indeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxole-7-carboxylate 19
To a solution of enone 18 (220 mg, 0.74 mmol) and
CeCl37H2O (335 mg, 0.9 mmol) in dry methanol (5 ml) was
added NaBH4 (35 mg, 0.9 mmol) at 20 C and the mixture
was stirred for 15 min at the same temperature. Methanol was
removed under reduced pressure and the residue obtained was
dissolved in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic
extract was washed, dried and evaporated to furnish allylic
alcohol 19 (138 mg) in 62% yield. IR: max 3460, 1715, 1440,
1335, 755 cm1; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): 6.71 (s, 1H),
4.764.68 (m, 2H), 4.41 (d, 1H, J = 8.1), 3.67 (s, 3H), 3.59 (s,
3H), 3.29 (dt, 1H, J = 12.6, 6.6), 2.99 (dd, 1H, J = 12.3, 7.8),
2.47 (dd, 1H, J = 12.3, 6.3), 2.30 (dd, 1H, J = 12.3, 6.9), 2.26
(br s, 1H), 1.551.44 (m, 1H), 1.47 (s, 3H), 1.32 (s, 3H); 13C
NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): 166.4, 139.4, 132.5, 109.3, 81.5, 80.5,
80.3, 72.4, 58.9, 51.9, 49.0, 39.0, 37.5, 26.3, 23.9; Found: C,
60.62; H, 6.83. C15H22O6 requires: C, 60.82; H, 6.80%.
4-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-7-vinylperhydroindeno[1,2-d][1,3]-
dioxol-5-ol 22
To a solution of unsaturated alcohol 19 (130 mg, 0.44 mmol) in
absolute ethanol (5 ml) was added PtO2 (2 mg) catalyst and the
mixture was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 h at rt.
The reaction mixture was ltered through a silica gel pad and
the ltrate was concentrated to aord a mixture of saturated
alcohols 20 (112 mg, 84%) in an 85 : 15 ratio (from 1H NMR)
and was subjected to the next step as such. IR: max 3450, 1725,
1340, 750 cm1; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): 4.754.69 (m,
1H), 4.60 (d, 1H, J = 6), 3.69 (s, 3H), 3.56 (s, 3H), 3.643.54 (m,
2H), 2.822.65 (m, 2H), 2.242.00 (m, 2H), 1.821.60 (m, 3H),
1.46 (s, 3H), 1.31 (s, 3H).
To a solution of 20 (112 mg, 0.37 mmol) in dry DCM (5 ml)
at 78 C, 1 M DIBAL-H (0.4 ml) was added under N2 and the
mixture was stirred at 78 C for 30 min. The reaction was
quenched with saturated NH4Cl solution and diluted with
DCM. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer
was extracted with DCM. The combined organic extract was
washed with water, brine, dried over Na2SO4 and then concen-
trated to aord the aldehyde 21 (~90 mg). The crude aldehyde
obtained was subjected to the next step as such. IR: max 3460,
2710, 1720, 1370, 1200, 1045 cm1; 1H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3): 9.67 (s, 1H), 4.74 (t, 1H, J = 5.7), 4.61 (d, 1H,
J = 5.7), 3.653.54 (m, 1H), 3.57 (s, 3H), 3.022.94 (m, 1H),
2.772.62 (m, 2H), 2.201.48 (series of m, 5H), 1.47 (s, 3H),
1.32 (s, 3H).
To a suspension of methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide (270
mg, 0.66 mmol) in dry THF (3 ml) was added 1.6 M n-BuLi (0.4
ml) under nitrogen atmosphere. and the mixture was stirred for
5 min at rt. To the canary yellow ylide that formed was added 21
(90 mg, 0.33 mmol) in THF (2 ml) and the reaction mixture
stirred further for 15 min and quenched with water. The organic
layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with
ether. The combined organic layer was washed with water,
brine, dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated. The residue was
puried by silica gel column chromatography (elution with 20%
EtOAchexane) and crystallization yielded the pure major iso-
mer 22 (48 mg) as a white crystalline solid in 48% overall yield.
Mp: 88 C; IR (KBr): max 3450, 1640, 1370, 1265, 1205, 900
cm1; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): 5.76 (ddd, 1H, J = 16.8,
10.8, 6.3), 5.034.96 (m, 2H), 4.70 (t, 1H, J = 5.4), 4.61 (d, 1H,
J = 6), 3.683.62 (m, 1H), 3.55 (s, 3H), 2.72 (t, 1H, J = 11.1),
2.592.52 (m, 2H), 2.07 (dd, 1H, J = 10.8, 5.4), 1.87 (td, 1H,
J = 12.9, 3), 1.69 (dd, 1H, J = 14.1, 5.1), 1.651.56 (m, 2H), 1.45
(s, 3H), 1.31 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 140.4,
113.6, 108.8, 82.3, 81.7, 79.2, 73.2, 58.7, 49.7, 39.7, 38.0, 32.3,
31.5, 25.9, 23.6; Found: C, 66.83; H, 9.04. C15H24O4 requires:
C, 67.14; H, 9.01%.
4-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-7-vinylperhydroindeno[1,2-d][1,3]-
dioxol-5-yl acetate 23
To a solution of alcohol 22 (40 mg, 0.15 mmol) in dry pyridine
(2 ml), cooled in an ice-bath, were added a catalytic amount of
DMAP and 0.5 ml of Ac2O and the mixture was stirred at rt for
2 h. The reaction was quenched with crushed ice and extracted
with diethyl ether. The organic layer was washed with dil. HCl,
water, brine, and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of the solvent
and purication through a silica gel column (elution with 10%
EtOAchexane) furnished 23 (40 mg) in 86% yield. IR(neat):
max 1725, 1370, 1240, 1020 cm1; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3):
5.71 (ddd, 1H, J = 17, 10, 6.5), 4.98 (d, 1H, J = 4.2), 4.96 (s,
1H), 4.834.78 (m, 1H), 4.69 (t, 1H, J = 5.5), 4.55 (d, 1H,
J = 5.6), 3.47 (s, 3H), 2.85 (t, 1H, J = 10.5), 2.612.50 (m, 2H),
2.07 (s, 3H), 2.06 (dd, 1H, J = 10.8, 3.7), 1.92 (td, 1H, J = 8.6,
4), 1.70 (dd, 1H, J = 14.1, 6.4), 1.52 (dt, 1H, J = 13.5, 5.5), 1.44
(s, 3H), 1.40 (q, 1H, J = 12.1), 1.30 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (125
MHz, CDCl3): 170.1, 139.9, 113.9, 108.9, 82.6, 79.1, 78.4,
76.3, 59.5, 50.5, 39.2, 37.7, 31.4, 30.0, 25.9, 23.6, 21.3; Found:
C, 65.84; H, 8.48. C17H26O5 requires: C, 65.78; H, 8.44%.
Methyl 2-(3-methoxy-4-acetoxy-2-methoxycarbonyl-6-vinyl-
cyclohexyl)acetate 24
Acetonide 23 (36 mg, 0.116 mmol) was dissolved in 2 ml of
30% aqueous triuoroacetic acid and stirred at rt for 1 h. The
volatile material was removed under vacuum and the residue in
3 ml of 10% aqueous THF was treated with NaIO4 (30 mg, 0.14
mmol) at ice temperature. The solution was stirred for 15 min,
diluted with water and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic
layer was washed, dried and concentrated. The crude dialde-
hyde obtained was dissolved in acetone (2 ml) and treated with
45 drops of 0.7 M Jones reagent. The mixture was stirred for
15 min, diluted with water and extracted with diethylether. The
organic layer was washed, dried and concentrated to aord the
crude diacid. The diacid in dry ether (2 ml) was treated with
excess of diazomethane in ether and left for 10 min at ice tem-
perature. The excess diazomethane was quenched with AcOH
and the volatile materials were removed under reduced pressure.
The residue was puried by silica gel column chromatography
(elution with 10% EtOAchexane) to furnish the diester 24
(8 mg) in 21% overall yield, from 23. IR (neat): max 2960, 1730,
1440, 1370, 1240, 1090 cm1; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3):
5.73 (ddd, 1H, J = 17.1, 10.5, 4.8), 5.03 (m, 2H), 4.78 (ddd,
1H, J = 14.4, 11.7, 5.1), 3.67 (s, 3H), 3.65 (m, 1H), 3.62 (s, 3H),
3.45 (s, 3H), 2.81 (m, 1H), 2.67 (dd, 1H, J = 11.4, 4.2), 2.45 (m,
2H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 2.07 (m, 1H), 1.25 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (75
MHz, CDCl3): 173.0, 172.7, 170.3, 138.3, 115.9, 78.3, 76.6,
60.9, 52.0, 51.7, 51.3, 41.1, 36.1, 29.2, 29.1, 21.3. The spectral
data for 24 were found to be identical through direct com-
parison with the same compound reported by Fraser-Reid
et al.3f
Acknowledgements
We thank Professor B. Fraser-Reid for providing the spectral
data on 24 for comparison purposes. D. S. R. thanks UGC,
New Delhi, for a research fellowship. This research was sup-
ported by the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientic
Research, Bangalore.
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